Interactive search graphical user interface systems and methods

• US 20100251162A1
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Data Services Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Relyea, Don, Roberts, Brian, Stallings, Heath
• Granted Patent: US 8,464,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/777
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to display an interactive search graphical user interface having at least a first viewing pane and a second viewing pane. A user may input a sequence of at least one character into the first viewing pane. A search results list including at least one entry based the character sequence and corresponding to at least one media content instance may then be displayed within the second viewing pane. When an entry within the search results list is selected by the user, the media content processing subsystem is configured to transfer the display of the search results list to the first viewing pane and display information corresponding to the selected entry within the second viewing pane.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one computing device configured to

display an interactive search graphical user interface having at least a first viewing pane and a second viewing pane;

display a search results list within said second viewing pane, said search results list including at least one entry based on a sequence of at least one character input into said first viewing pane and corresponding to at least one media content instance;

transfer said display of said search results list to said first viewing pane when an entry within said search results list is selected by a user; and

display, within said second viewing pane while the search results list is displayed within the first viewing pane, another search results list based at least in part on said selected entry and a new search term entered by the user, the new search term refining said search results list by at least one of a keyword, a genre, a year, a rating, a broadcast time, an actor, and a producer associated with the selected entry.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one entry within said search results list comprises at least one of a folder containing related content, a title of at least one of said at least one media content instance, and a name of a person related to at least one of said at least one media content instance.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one computing device is further configured to dynamically display said search results list as said at least one character is input into said first viewing pane.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one computing device is further configured to display an interactive scrolling character wheel configured to facilitate said entry of said at least one said character into said first viewing pane.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one entry within said search results list contains at least said sequence of said at least one character.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one computing device is further configured to display at least one selectable search history tab configured to graphically represent a number of corresponding search levels within a search thread taken by the user during a search session.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one selectable search history tab comprises a plurality of selectable search history tabs that are vertically aligned.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one search tab comprises an expandable search history tab that expands into a number of additional search history tabs when selected.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second viewing panes are vertically aligned.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one computing device is further configured to display an interactive keypad configured to facilitate said entry of said at least one said character into said first viewing pane.

2. (canceled)

11. An apparatus comprising:

a graphics engine configured to generate one or more graphics that are displayed by a display device; and

a processor communicatively coupled to said graphics engine, said processor configured cause said graphics engine to

generate an interactive search graphical user interface that is displayed by said display device, said search graphical user interface having at least a first viewing pane and a second viewing pane; and

generate a search results list that is displayed within said second viewing pane, said search results list including at least one entry based on a sequence of at least one character input into said first viewing pane and corresponding to at least one media content instance;

wherein, when an entry within said search results list is selected by a user, said search results list is displayed within said first viewing pane and said processor causes said graphics engine to generate and display, within said second viewing pane while the search results list is displayed within the first viewing pane, another search results list based at least in part on said selected entry and a new search term entered by the user, the new search term refining said search results list by at least one of a keyword, a genre, a year, a rating, a broadcast time, an actor, and a producer associated with the selected entry.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said at least one entry within said search results list comprises at least one of a folder containing related content, a title of at least one of said at least one media content instance, and a name of a person related to at least one of said at least one media content instance.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said search results list is dynamically displayed as said at least one character is input into said first viewing pane.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said processor is further configured to cause said graphics engine to generate and display an interactive scrolling character wheel configured to facilitate said entry of said at least one character into said first viewing pane.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said at least one said entry within said search results list contains at least said sequence of said at least one character.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said processor is further configured to cause said graphics engine to generate and display at least one selectable search history tab configured to graphically represent a corresponding search level within a search thread taken by the user during a search session.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said at least one selectable search history tab comprises a plurality of search history tabs that are vertically aligned.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said at least one selectable search history tab comprises a plurality of search history tabs and wherein at least one of said plurality of search history tabs comprises an expandable search history tab that expands into a number of additional search history tabs when selected.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first and second viewing panes are vertically aligned.

12. (canceled)

21. A method comprising:

displaying, by at least one computing device, an interactive search graphical user interface having at least a first viewing pane and a second viewing pane;

displaying, by the at least one computing device, a search results list within said second viewing pane, said search results list including at least one entry based on a sequence of at least one character input into said first viewing pane and corresponding to at least one media content instance;

transferring, by the at least one computing device, said display of said search results list to said first viewing pane when an entry within said search results list is selected by a user; and

displaying, by the at least one computing device within said second viewing pane while the search results list is displayed within the first viewing pane, another search results list based at least in part on said selected entry and a new search term entered by the user, the new search term refining said search results list by at least one of a keyword, a genre, a year, a rating, a broadcast time, an actor, and a producer associated with the selected entry.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said at least one entry within said search results list comprises at least one of a folder containing related content, a title of at least one of said at least one media content instance, and a name of a person related to at least one of said at least one media content instance.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising dynamically displaying, by the at least one computing device, said search results list as said at least one character is input into said first viewing pane.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising displaying, by the at least one computing device, at least one selectable search history tab configured to graphically represent a number of corresponding search levels within a search thread taken by the user during a search session.

22. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

28. (canceled)